Random

Okay, I normally don't post such things on this blog but I just can't help it this one time.

One of the blogs I follow posted this picture yesterday,... Being an avid book lover & collector, PLUS having an overly romantic heart this was utterly perfect.

As my bestie, JMash says, "Le sigh...."

I Heart my Church

   For the last few weeks, the FPB creative team has been working on our new website (Stay tuned for the launch date!) and we were talking about certain things we wanted to be represented on the new site. One of these was a " I Heart my Church" page. On this page, we will have video & comments from FPB members on why they love their church. I can't wait to hear & see all the love pouring out for FPB.
 I really do belong to a fantastic church and I wanted to list my reasons for why "I heart my Church."
 So here you go, a few reasons why I love my church:

• FPB is one of the most friendly churches I have ever been to and I've been to several. When you walk in the opened door you are greeted with a friendly smile and a welcoming attitude. I feel that sour, mean, gossip-spreading, rude, obnoxious people cannot God-filled. It's impossible to behave in that manner if Christ is truly in you. Note: if you act in the above listed manner, check yourself. The spirit living in you is NOT of God.
• Our student ministry, Element is doing a great job leading & discipling students into a mature walk with God. Honestly, I've been to churches where the Student Ministry was all most being the most edgy, current student group. Lights, creative art demonstartions, and concerts led the students rather than the Word and prayer. Don't get me wrong! I am all for lights, creative art and concerts for students! I love that! But if you aren't digging down into the Truth and showing the students how to do the same, then you are just raising a generation that is more concerned with the outside of the cup rather than the inside. Read Matthew 23:26.
• I belong to one the most giving churches. If a need arises, whether it be international, national, community, or an individual, FPB reaches that need. I have seen FPB hallways full of clothes and shoes for the homeless, ziplock bags of various medicial items for Haiti, Christmas presents for a needy family, and food for a sick family. This church reaches out to lift others up in any possible way. That's what being a Godly person is all about. Recognizing the need of others and reaching it in whatever manner possible.

Yes, FPB may have flaws and problems. We're working on them. As our Pastor likes to say, "This is a church full of humans. We're created flawed."  We all mess up but hopefully, it's the Jesus in us that strives to correct the mess and move onwards and upwards.  FPB is a wonderful church full of wonderful people. I am blessed to call the First Pentecostals of Benton my home church.  I heart my church.

My Thoughts Thursday

SO grateful it's finally Thursday! I feel like I can see the light at the end of the work week tunnel. This week has been insanely busy, which isn't always a bad thing. It just makes for a whole lot of crazy drama. Whew!

Anyway, back to my Thursday thoughts. The following is a few things that have been on my mind this week.

 And here we go, ...

• The Beach: One week from today I will be driving to meet my dear LA. Friends for our Annual Girl's Trip. I am so ready for sun, sand and surf. I've already started mentally packing my book bag. There really is no better place to study the Word than beach lit by a quiet sunrise. Love it!


• Friends: I am truly thankful for my LA. Girls. These girls have been my friends for years. We've laughed, cried, giggled, shopped, shared and prayed together. These girls have shouldered many a burden and prayed many a prayer with me. They’ve shown me the right path more often than I'd like to admit. They've been there for me even when I may have been distant. I appreciate them and value them so very much. If you don't have a group of friends or even A friend like my LA. Friends, you need to find one. You will definitely need one.


• Nagging vs. Burden: This topic has been on my mind lately. We have to make sure we recognize the difference between nagging someone to reach God and having a burden for someone to reach God. The burden makes the difference. When you have a burden, it's about the individual's soul and eternity location. When you nag at a person, it's about you and getting your way. One way is altruistic, the other selfish. Which are you?


• Graduation night: For many high school teens, tonight and tomorrow night marks the ending of a phase. Six years ago I graduated high school... that seems like a lifetime ago. To the graduates of 2011, I say pursue those God dreams in your life and don't be surprised when the dreams begin to change. Dream change can be very healthy. It's apart of life. It's apart of growing up. It's apart of becoming who God designed you to be.

To quote Steven Tyler, “Dream on,..."

 

  

Bring 'em back

I've decided to start wearing more hats.

 I blame Kate Middleton and the Brits for this reborn obsession.

Who cares if no one else in Arkansas is wearing them!

Attach some netting and a feather to that straw farmer's hat and hit the town!

( Hat Therapy)

(Hat Therapy)



TED Commandments

If you are a speaker or plan on speaking in the future you need to have personal guidelines for yourself and your speech. My personal pet peeve is speakers who ramble about the same topic for nearly an hour.If you have guidelines for yourself you will be more memorable and you will keep from boring your audience.
   In his article, " Ten Tips from Lincoln on Writing a Kick-ass Speech" Leo Babauta tells us to keep it short. "If you can deliver a two-minute speech, instead of a 30-minute droner, your audience will actually listen, and will love you for your brevity."
All ten of the points he makes are fantastic! Being a huge Abe Lincoln fan, I am in complete agreement of each of them. Especially the last one, End Strong. "Lincoln ended the Gettysburg Address with the line “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” And that line went down in history. End with a line people will remember, that contains the message you want them to remember, because, aside from the opening, it’s the most important line."

TED organization is known for having some of the most inspiring, creative, passionate speakers on the planet. Before a new member speaks for the first time, the organization will send the new member a stone slate with the following TED commandments inscribed on it. Each "commandment" is incredible. I challenge you to apply these at your next speaking engagement!

The TED Commandments:

1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick
2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before
3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion
4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story
5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Skae of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy
6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desparate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee

My Grandmama

 I dearly love Doylene Kuykendall. She is my mentor, prayer partner, best friend, confidant, and she's my grandmama. She is four things every woman should be: Godly, fiesty, wise and strong. She has guided me through many personal storms and given me so many words of wisdom. If you have the opportunity to meet her, do so. She will rock your world. She is a 4'9 bundle of smiles, joy and wisdom. She is always correcting, guiding, and mentoring me down life's path. She hands out Godly wisdom like candy and each one is tried and true.

Today I thought I'd share a few of her God points.

1. You can't out-give God.  I have heard this phrase come out of her mouth dozens of times. If I was struggling financially or was needing answers, I'd call her up and she'd ask, " Rae, how's your giving? Are you fulfilling the Word's requests? Are you taking care of God's things first?" And then I'd state if I was or if I had been slacking on my giving. Now, she didn't always mean financially giving. Sometimes she's ask if I was giving God my time. The term Giving is covers a wide range of area from time, to abilities, to finances. She makes sure I am giving God my best in all areas because if I am doing that, "He will take care of your needs. Baby, you can't out-give God. It's not possible."
2. God's things first. This one gets used a lot. During college, I'd call her up crying or whining about how everyone else was doing this or was moving there. I would start talking about my plans for my life. She would listen quietly for a few moments and then I'd hear these words, "God's things first, baby. You take care of His dreams for your life and then your dreams will fall into place." She would talk to me about how our plans aren't always His Plans. I'd listen and calm down. She was right. And to this day if I start racing ahead of God's Will for my life, I'll hear her word's echoing in my mind, "God's things first, baby. God's things first."
3. Have you prayed about it?  I'll be complaining about a situation and she'll whip out this phrase, "Have you prayed about it?" Silence on my end of the call. My Grandmama is a prayer warrior. This lady moves mountains when she prays. Seriously. She has a direct line to God and when she prays about a situation things happen. Her prayer life is an inspiration to me. I don't pray enough. When visiting my Grandmama in Louisiana I always try to go to Saturday morning prayer with her. I'll pray for awhile and then just listen to her prayers. They are inspiring. I'm learning to put my concerns in the right perspective. It's taking time and sometimes I still have to be reminded. "Have you prayed about it, baby?"
4.  Get in the Word.  Whew... She makes sure I'm hitting THE BOOK.  Am I in the Word? Am I studying His truths and learning more about the Holy One? If I'm conflicted on a matter she will ask, "What does the Word say? What is God's promise concerning that matter?"  She will tell you up front you have no business NOT knowing what God says through His Word. "Study to show yourself approved."  She will tell you to search His Word, Study it  and seek Him,... these principles are evident in her own life. "Get in the Word."

 I know I am blessed to know this Godly woman. I am blessed by her on a daily basis. If you don't have a woman like her in your life, go find one. Eveyone needs a Doylene Kuykendall.

Tzedakah

  Last Sunday night at FPB my Pastor spoke on the story in the Gospels about the woman who "did what she could." Read about this in Mark 14. As he spoke, I began to think about this woman and how she didn't have much but because she did what she could she ended up being mentioned throughout time. Even Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Simply because she did what she could with what she had.


Apparently God wasn't finished with me on this topic because Monday when going through my daily reading routine of various news sources, websites and blogs, I came across a blog by Scott Ginsberg and in his post he made a point about choreographed giving.

Choreographed giving is when there is no passion, no heart behind our giving. It's a methodical, lifeless motion. We find ourselves going through a giving routine that leaves us feeling hollow and unblessed. We resentfully give our time when asked. We give our finances because as a Christian that what we're supposed to do. We bury talents and abilities in the dirt of our daily routines. We become  automatic givers of our time, our finances, and our abilities. There is no heart, no passion, and no purpose behind our giving. We give because it's socially expected of us, because our Pastor gave a convicting sermon, or because our pew neighbor pulled out their pocketbook and we don't want to be outdone.

When reading about the early church, we read Paul's letters to the various churches and in these letters he is thanking them for their giving spirit. He encourages them to step up and give more. He even laid out Giving plans for some of the churches. We even read of the consequences for selfish giving in Acts 5:1-10. Giving was an essential part of the early church. I firmly believe that giving spirit is one of the reasons the early church grew so quickly.

In Judaism there is a word: tzedakah. It's a commandment to give. You see it in Matthew 6:2-4.
"So, when you do tzedakah, don't announce it with trumpets to win people's praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 3 But you, when you do tzedakah, don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you."

Tzedakah comes from the root word tzedek, meaning righteous. It becomes tzedakah when you add the letter, "hey" which symbolizes the name of the Divine One. So when you put it all together you get tzedakah, righteous acts of giving which permeate God in the world. Jews believe that when you tzedakah or give, you are actually spreading the light of God.

Through the giving of your time, finances and abilities are you spreading the light of God?

Do you have a life of tzedakah?

When you have to heart of a giver you recognize that it's not about you. Your time, finances, and abilities were all GIVEN to you by God. He does not bless us in these three areas so that we can selfishly hoard them for our own personal gain.  

Giving is more than our bi-weekly 10%. Giving is more than building funds. It's more than offerings. Yes, those things are apart of financial giving but there has to be more. Giving is not about being seen or about how it makes you feel. It's not about giving to receive. It's not about giving because of peer pressure. Giving is not an initiative. It's about a life style, a mindset.

Melanie Shock tells a story of a little boy named Mark who lives in the Philippines.Mark is around 11 years old and sells newspapers to support his mother and sister. She speaks about how she & the local missionary's wife, Brenda Mallory went and bought Mark groceries for his family. Upon arriving at his home she was shocked by his living conditions but she was more amazed at his giving spirit. After showing his family the groceries, he brought an unopened bottle of soda to Brenda Mallory and offered it to her, "Ma'am are you thirsty?"

He was willing to give a gift he had yet to experience or enjoy. He was committing tzedekah.

We must let go of the 21st Century American cultural mindset and be the givers that God designed us to be.
As the speaker & writer, Randy Alcorn said, "Someday I'm going to stand before God and give an account of my life (Romans 14:12). On that day I do not want to have to explain why, being indwelt with the Holy Spirit and having lived in the most affluent nation in human history, I failed to give at the very minimal level of those who did not have the indwelling Spirit and owned far less than I".

Giving is not what we do, it's who we are. As a spirit-filled, Apostolic American I should be one of the most giving people I know. I should be willing to open my pocketbook, day-timer and heart for others who are in need. There should be no reason why I should be stingy with my time, finances and abilities. We have got to get rid of this selfish mentality, or spirit. We have got to let go of our faithless concerns for our personal agendas. Ask yourself, "Percentages aside, Am I a generous giver with my time, finances and abilities?" What is the answer?

We have to learn to give before being asked.

We have to learn to give after being asked.

We have to learn to give everything that is asked.

We have to learn to give beyond what is asked.

 

Luke Chapter 12:

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

What are you preparing for yourself? Are you rich in the things of God?
Or are you selfishly hoarding your time, finances and abilities?

God does not give so that I or you may take. God gives so that we may give back.



My Mom

She is wife.

She is mom.

She is many things to all.

She is small.

She has grey hair.

She has brown eyes and a mouth quick to smile.

She is quick-witted.

She is sarcastic.

She can spout of endless cliches.

She is a wise leader.

She is a quiet listener.

She is a protector of her family.

She is calm.

She is fierce.

She is always loving.

She is trustworthy.

She is honorable.

She is one on whom I can depend.

She is quiet.

She is brave.

She is full of goodness.

She is a peacemaker.

She is a truth speaker.

She is my Mom.

Love you, Mom.